Birding and other distractions

Having had no luck in Achladeri forest with Kruper's Nuthatch we tried a different area today. It actually involved two sites, with success at each one as it turned out, watched from a respectable range. The first site was at the top of a tall dead tree, with parent birds visiting the nest about every five minutes, no doubt to feed the young. The birds were watched through the 'scope, no pictures being taken. The second site was about 0.5 km away, though a similar situation, the nest being at the top of a dead tree, albeit a thinner one. The call of the bird first attracted our attention, then an adult was seen. The bird did not visit so often as the first pair did, so maybe a less advanced nest in terms of development of young, if indeed the eggs had hatched. Masked Shrikes were also seen at both sites, plus two Red-rumped Swallows at the first site and a flyover Middle Spotted Woodpecker at the second site. In afternoon we first visited the Potamia reservoir area, hoping to f...

The day gradually warmed up after significant overnight rain. At nearby Kalloni marsh a Savi's Warbler briefly reeled from the reedbed but was not seen. A Little Bittern was present though views were less than ideal. Another visit to Alykes Wetland provided generally similar birds to the previous day, with the addition of a male Garganey while Glossy Ibis were closer. At Molivos reservoir we failed to find Great-spotted Cuckoo but did see a Hoopoe, Orphean Warbler, two E Subalpine Warbler, Red-backed and Woodchat Shrikes. From the road back to Molivos we stopped to admire a Lesser Grey, and female Red-backed Shrike. In late afternoon a Long-eared Owl and two owlets were present at a local site, then a second visit to Kalloni pool yielded a juvenile Purple Heron, a pair of Garganey, and brief views of a Little Crake. Glossy Ibis at Alykes wetland Squacco Heron  Purple Heron  Garganey  Purple Heron  E Subalpine Warbler  Orphean Warbler  Female Red-backed Shri...

We started the day at Aegian flats and adjacent marsh. Birds of note included a Stone Curlew and two Ruddy Shelduck, plus two rather distant Spur-winged Plover from the bandstand. It was hard work in Achladeri forest with no sign of Kruper's Nuthatch. However, Short-toed Treecreeper were fairly easy to find, and there was a female Pied Flycatcher plus a group of Alpine Swift flew over. At Metochi Lake we saw both male and female Little Crake, a Squacco Heron, and a good number of Bee-eaters. Kalloni Saltpans had a White-winged Black Tern, two Little Tern, nine Slender-billed Gulls, a Little Gull, Marsh Sandpiper and c100 Ruff. The number of birds on Alykes wetland was extraordinary, in particular with up to 2000 Swallow. Two Short-toed Eagle, a ring-tail harrier, eight Black Stork, a Spoonbill, Gull-billed Tern, Purple Heron, and four Squacco Heron added to the spectacle. Bee-eater  Female Little Crake  Male Little Crake  Black Stork Gull-billed Tern  Squacco Heron...